EC schedules Meedhoo council by-election for June 13

The Elections Commission of Maldives has announced that a second round of voting for the presidency of the Dh. Meedhoo Island Council will be held on the 13th of next month following a High Court ruling that resulted in a tie between the two leading candidates.

According to the provisional results initially released by the Elections Commission, Suha Ibrahim of the People's National Congress received 393 votes, while Mohamed Shahid of the Maldives Development Alliance secured 392 votes.

Following a complaint regarding a ballot cast by an ineligible voter, one vote was invalidated, leaving both candidates tied at 392 votes each.

A recount was later conducted after concerns were raised regarding the invalidation of another ballot cast for the PNC candidate.

During the recount, an additional ballot for Suha was declared invalid, reducing her total to 391 votes and giving Shahid the lead with 392 votes.

Shahid was subsequently declared the winner.

Suha later challenged the invalidation of two ballots at the High Court.

The court later ruled that one of the previously invalidated ballots should be counted, resulting in both candidates receiving 392 votes each.

Following the ruling, the Elections Commission stated that a second round of voting was required to determine the winner.

According to the commission: